Manchester United gives up on Anderson as Manchester City bids £120m! United announces six players leaving, saving £33m

Manchester City has made a second approach this week for 23-year-old England international Elliot Anderson, orally offering Nottingham Forest a fixed £106m transfer fee plus £15m in add-ons, totaling over £120m. However, Forest remains unsatisfied and rejected the bid, demanding a flat £125m fee to surpass the British record set by Liverpool when they signed Isak. In response, Manchester United has withdrawn from the race, as Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the INEOS team are unwilling to offer more than City.

BBC's Simon Stone stated: "Anderson is indeed a player United like, even their top choice for a midfield addition. However, United has made it clear they will not join a bidding war or pay an inflated transfer fee. Pursuing Anderson would require abandoning both stances, as City already leads, and Nottingham Forest's owner Evangelos Marinakis has set a very high price, given the player's contract still has three years remaining."

The Athletic's David Ornstein also said: "United's interest in Anderson is well known, but given their current financial situation, they have no intention of entering the bidding. United refuses to engage in a bidding war and is instead focusing on players willing to join them, considering candidates like Matheus Fernandes and Alex Scott."

Transfer expert Ben Jacobs believes: "United sees Anderson as a dream target but will not get drawn into a bidding war, especially without the player's consent. Additionally, the cost of the deal is a factor, and Anderson seems more inclined to move to City. United is exploring other targets. M. Fernandes remains a player to watch, with negotiations ongoing. Bournemouth will soon hold further talks with Scott about his future, with an estimated fee around £80m. Carlos Baleba is also on United's list."

Club correspondent Samuel Luckhurst noted: "If Anderson cannot be signed, it would be wise to spend up to £130m on Baleba and Scott, both 22-year-old players with extensive Premier League experience. This strategy mirrors last year's £133.5m signings of Cunha and Mbeumo. United knows that some Premier League clubs will not sell to them, so they target clubs more willing to deal domestically to secure top talent."

On Wednesday, Manchester United officially announced that first-team players Casemiro, Jadon Sancho, and Tyrell Malacia will leave at the end of the month when their contracts expire. The club thanked them for their contributions and wished them well in the future.

All three had a one-year extension option, but United chose not to activate it, opting to part ways. This had been decided long ago, and the announcement was merely a formal confirmation. The timing was chosen because the club needed to submit its retained player list to the Premier League that day.

The departures of Casemiro, Sancho, and Malacia will significantly help owner Ratcliffe's plan to reduce wage costs. "The Beast" earned the highest salary at the club with £350,000 per week, Sancho's £250,000 per week also ranked among the top, and Malacia had £75,000 per week. By terminating their contracts, the club saves over £33m annually.

United also announced that three academy youngsters would leave on free transfers: Sonny Aljofree, James Bailey, and Malachi Sharpe.

Goalkeeper Dermot Mee, 23, received a new contract. Although he has never played for the first team, he has played an important role in training. Defenders Albert Mills and Dante Plunkett are expected to sign their first professional contracts in July.